Punjab needs incentives to rejuvenate its industrial sector

Punjab’s economy & business needs to get a push. We have seen dark days in 80’s & 90’s and the economy was

really not given the required attention. In the aftermath of those dark days a lot of industries had left Punjab

because of the problems and the ones that stayed suffered because of state apathy. The time has come to grow

the environment that will attract industrial actors back to the state. The Progressive Punjab Investors Summit held

in December last year, successfully firmed up investment commitments worth more than Rs 65,000 crore, but now

it is time to follow through. Giving incentives to other states and not to Punjab will only be counterproductive. The

extend tax and other special incentives given to Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand must be

extended to Punjab as well.

Enterprising Punjabi entrepreneurs have scripted great success stories in the past – within the state, across India

and even overseas. The state must continue to grow this spirit and not let it slip across to nearby towns such as

Baddi in Himachal Pradesh or Kathua in J&K which are quite close to Punjab. Punjab needs fresh investments to

create thousands of new jobs and boost industrial output. In fact, it deserves a special industrial package which is

crucial for the state’s rural development programmes and overall economic prosperity.

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